Muhyiddin retains his other party posts, but will remain suspended as deputy president until the next Umno election due only in 2018. — Picture by Saw Siow Feng

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 26 — Umno president Datuk Seri Najib Razak and vice president Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi both recused themselves from the supreme council meeting that decided to suspend Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin as the deputy president today.

According to Umno information chief Tan Sri Annuar Musa, Najib chose to leave the meeting as the motion to suspend Muhyiddin as deputy president was over his open criticism of the party’s top leader.

Ahmad Zahid also followed suit, although Annuar did not share the former’s reasons for doing so; Ahmad Zahid was later named as acting deputy president.

“It was a difficult decision to make. We had to discuss for many hours on it. During the meeting, the president asked to be excused because he didn't want to be involved in the decision,” Annuar said after the decision was announced.

“He (Najib) said many of the allegations Muhyiddin had raised was against him, so he did not want to be involved.”

Annuar also said the decision to suspend Muhyiddin was unanimous among the remaining supreme council members.

The Ketereh MP added that the move to suspend Muhyiddin should be taken a positive one in order to strengthen Umno before the next general election.

Muhyiddin retains his other party posts, but will remain suspended as deputy president until the next Umno election due only in 2018.